Track-tionary

In-ter-vals: Technically, intervals refers to the time you spend recovering between speed segments. But the term commonly refers to track workouts in general, or fast bouts of running.

Re-cov-ery: Walking or easy jogging between faster-paced segments. Recovery lets your heart rate return to the point where you're ready to run fast again, and helps you regain the energy you'll need for the next burst of speed.

Re-peats: The fast segments of running that are repeated during a workout, with recovery in between. If you're training for a marathon, you might run 1000-meter repeats six times. For shorter races, like 5-Ks, you might do shorter repeats, of 400 meters or so, at your goal race pace.

Split: The time it takes to complete any defined distance. If you're running 800 meters, or two laps, you might check your split after the first lap to shoot for an even pace.

Strides: Short bursts of speed that increase heart rate and leg turnover. They get your legs ready to run hard. Strides are run near 90 percent of maximum effort for 20 seconds at a time with easy jogging in between.